Browse:

PERTH METRO’S TOP SELF-STORAGE TIPS

If you’ve never taken advantage of self-storage facilities before, then it’s a good idea to set aside some extra time to prepare. It’s wise to begin by creating a storage plan. The last thing you want to do is show up on storage day and begin arranging boxes haphazardly until you are able to make everything fit. This is all but guaranteed to make poor use of your space, and it could even mean you aren’t able to fit everything in as originally hoped.

But with a storage plan, you’ll have a strong idea of how you’re going to approach your storage situation from the earliest stages. In addition to planning out how you are going to utilise your storage space, it’s also important to keep storage records for later reference. This is particularly important if you’re dealing with a large storage unit, as you’re all but certain to forget where each and every item is placed. Organise boxes according to what’s inside them, and maintain meticulous inventory of each box’s contents.

There are several other steps you can take to ensure a painless storage process. Here are a few expert tips for how to pack and store specific types of items:

Self-Storage Tips for Large Appliances

Electrical appliances such as cookers, freezers, refrigerators and other so-called ‘whitegoods’ must be emptied and cleaned before they are stored. They must also be completely dry before you place them in storage.

Some people try to make the most of limited space by placing some of their stored items inside of refrigerators, cookers and other appliances with significant interior space. However, doing so could lead to scratches or more substantial damage to the inside of your appliance.

You may have to take extra measures to keep refrigerators and freezers fresh whilst in storage. Placing a deodoriser inside of each item like this is a good start.

In addition to the above, you’ll also extend the freshness of your refrigerator by leaving the door ajar to prevent mould from building up inside.

Self-Storage Tips for Fragile Items

Items that are easily broken require some extra attention. Wrap each item separately in tissue paper (packing paper also works). Avoid wrapping items in newsprint, as this can leave ink marks and stains.

Invest in strong, high-quality boxes to pack all your belongings – but particularly your fragile ones. It’s easy to simply purchase the cheapest boxes that you can find, but this actually sets you up for problems down the road. Cheaper containers may save you money up front, but they’re likely to crumple under the weight of other boxes stacked on top of them, and this can end up damaging the goods inside.

All boxes that contain breakable items should be marked ‘fragile’ so that there’s never any question that they should be handled with care.

For your stacking strategy, be sure to place boxes of breakables on top without any heavy boxes crushing down on top of them.

If there are any spaces in a box of breakables, fill them with packing paper to help absorb any pressure and stress.

Use plenty of soft packing material at the tops and bottoms of these boxes to protect the contents from external pressure.

Some breakable items (such as mirrors and large framed portraits) should be stored in their own protective boxes that are designed specifically to fit them.

Self-Storage Tips for Furniture

If it’s possible to do so, remove the legs from articles of furniture. In this case, we’re thinking about tables, bed frames and desks. Leaving them intact during the packing and transport process makes them more susceptible to being broken.

Be sure to empty out wardrobes, chests of drawers, etc. before attempting to shift them. That extra weight that they’re holding makes them easier to break. Instead, only load them up when they are completely assembled and in their proper place.

It’s best not to store clothing in your wardrobe or chest of drawers, so after you’ve emptied those furniture pieces, place your clothing and personal items in boxes instead. This will protect them and keep them in better shape whilst in storage.

There’s an art to placing furniture in storage. Chairs should be stacked seat-to-seat, but with a barrier (such as a piece of paper or a cloth) between each one for protection. Similarly, heavy articles of furniture shouldn’t be placed directly on the floor. Instead, lay down plastic or a similarly protective material to cushion and protect furniture bases.

Before you place sofas and other upholstered furniture in storage, give it a thorough cleaning with a vacuum cleaner. This will remove food crumbs and other debris that may otherwise attract pests while the items are in storage.

Upholstered sofa cushions and similar items require additional protection whilst in storage. These should be wrapped in plastic to protect them from vermin, moisture and dust.

By the same token, you’ll also want to protect entire articles of furniture with similar measures. At minimum, upholstered sofas and recliners should be covered once in storage. However, you may want to do the same for hard furniture such as tables and chests of drawers as well.

If you organise your storage unit properly, then it will offer the ideal storage solution for your belongings. Don’t be shy to ask for our advice if you have any questions about how to make the most of your storage unit. We’ve been in this industry for a long time, and it’s all but certain that we’ve encountered a situation like yours before.

Our staff are keen to assist you, so please feel free to get in touch with us. You can reach us directly by calling us at either of our storage sites: